Vipers Take Strangle Hold On Series:

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Vipers take strangle hold on series

by Don Klepp | Added 2011-04-04

The Vipers have pushed the Powell River Kings to the brink of elimination with a 4-3 win in Vernon on Monday.

Despite playing aggressively and winning the special teams battle, the Kings could not find a way to beat the Vipers, who could sew up the BCHL final series with a victory at home on Tuesday.

For the first time in the series and the first time in the Viper postseason, the team that allowed the first goal won the game. That goal came at 2:49 of the first period during a Kings power play, when a puck caromed to Cohen Adair in the left faceoff circle. He beat Kirby Halcrow high glove side and the Kings’ early dominance was rewarded.

The Kings continued to press, but a big hit by Brett Corkey on Matt Garbowsky fired up the Vipers and they stormed back with two goals 50 seconds apart.

The first was a power play goal that was similar to Adair’s marker. Darren Nowick and John Knisley won battles along the right boards and the puck squirted to Mike Zalewski, who was open in the right faceoff circle. His low wrister beat Michael Garteig just inside Garteig’s right post at 14:53.

Then Malcolm Lyles took over. He stopped a King play deep in his zone and started up ice. Seeing some room on the left wing, he darted forward. “The defenceman was a little slow getting there, so I kept going and then took it to the net.”

Marcus Basara joined Lyles at the crease and popped in his fourth of the playoffs.

Lyles gave the Vipers a 3-1 lead at 4:50 of the second period. Accepting a pass from Darren Nowick at centre ice, Lyles again cut left and continued until the left faceoff dot. He stopped quickly and shot against the grain. Michael Garteig got a piece of the high shot with his left arm, but the puck found the net.

At that point, Coach Kent Lewis had seen enough and he replaced Garteig with rookie Sean Maguire. The strategy worked, as the Kings allowed few chances for the rest of the period while creating several of their own.

They cut into the lead with a Chris Williams short handed goal at 13:15, when the Viper power play unit fell asleep. For the rest of the period, they peppered Kirby Halcrow, outshooting the Vipers 17-6 in the period.

However, the Kings were unable to score until 5:50 of the third period, when a power play strike made the score 3-3. Chad Niddery was the trigger man at the conclusion of a series of slick passes.

John Knisley potted the Viper winner at 13:24. He squeezed by an attempted tackle along the right boards in the King zone and got to the puck lying in the corner. Seeing no other play, he threw it on net and the puck appeared to bounce in off Maguire’s left shoulder.

It was a tough way for the Kings to lose a game that they had dominated for stretches, especially in the first two periods. They constantly pressured the Vipers deep, to create turnovers. Also, they often ran interference when they had possession. It was an effective strategy because the referees declined to issue interference penalties.

As in Saturday’s 1-0 Viper win, the Kings created some late chances with their goalie replaced by an attacking player. However, Kirby Halcrow was again solid in net, and Kyle Murphy won the last three faceoffs to help preserve the win.

After the game, Malcolm Lyles attributed the Vipers' seven-game winning streak to snack selection. "After the two losses to Salmon Arm," he said, "we changed our dressing room food choices and it's helped a lot!"